Due to the impending hurricane forecast for this weekend, Hudson Pride has postponed the LGBT Parade and Festival, initially planned for Saturday in Jersey City. The Parade and Festival is rescheduled for Sunday, October 9, 2011 at Exchange Place. Earlier today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie called a state of emergency, as Hurricane Irene is predicted to approach the Northeast this weekend. An email and facebook notice from the organizers of the 11th Annual Hudson Pride said that “therefore we must take the proper precautions and postpone our event.”

JERSEY CITY, NJ – The 2011 Hudson Pride Week festivities will begin next week with the raising of the Rainbow Flag-the symbol of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride-above City Hall and The Hudson County Court House in Jersey City. Hudson Pride Connections Center (HPCC) is proud to be the host organization of the 11th Annual LGBT Pride Festival and Parade on August 27th and all the Pride events leading up to the big event.

On Monday, August 22nd, at 5:30 pm, the LGBT flag will be raised at the courthouse on the corner of Newark and Baldwin Avenues. The Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise will preside over the event, and other community leaders will be present as well. At that time, we will be honoring three important members of the Hudson Pride family with Proclamations of Achievement from the county. David Bimbi, from Hoboken, NJ, has dedicated his time and knowledge to the HPCC Board since 2000, and has been the Board President since 2005. Gene Aguirre, HPCC’s Volunteer Coordinator, has been rallying volunteers and has generously given his time and energy to the Pride festivals and events since 2008. The Jersey Boys of Leather are HPCC partners in the community and recently held the Kulture For Kids Art Auction, which was successful in raising funds for HPCC’s YouthConnect, Hudson County’s only LGBTQ social services program for youth 13-25. There will be a reception at the HPCC, located at 32 Jones Street, Jersey City, following the ceremony.

On Tuesday, August 23rd, at 5:00 pm, the LGBT flag will be raised at City Hall, Balcony Level. City Hall is located at 280 Grove Street. Community leaders will be at this event to show their support of the LGBT community in our city. “I am proud to celebrate Pride here in Jersey City and look forward to the raising of the Gay Pride Flag once again at City Hall. The people of Jersey City and Hudson County have always been supportive of their LGBT neighbors and that is why our community thrives. I hope everyone will come out and celebrate with us. Our diversity and our respect for each other is what make our city an amazing place to live.” Ray Velazquez, Councilman at Large, says.

Pride Week festivities culminate with the 11th Annual LGBT Pride Festival and Parade on Saturday, August 27th. The parade will kick off at 11 am in front of City Hall and will proceed to Exchange Place, the site of the festival. We hope the Hudson Pride community will join us for live entertainment, food, raffles, and fun!

Nancy Caamaño, Executive Director of HPCC, says, “I am proud and excited that HPCC is the host organization of the LGBT Festival and Parade. I have been honored by all the generosity and support we have received from the community leaders, merchants, and volunteers, who are equally excited about the Pride celebrations and this year’s festival. It’s going to be a great success because we are all working together to make it the best one yet!”

Additional information on all Pride Week events and the LGBT Pride Festival and Parade can be found at www.hudsonpride.org.Hudson Pride Connections Center, a 501c3 community organization founded in 1993, exists to bridge the gap in services and respond to the unmet needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transgender community, as well as HIV positive people of any orientation or identity, through supportive social services, prevention, outreach, advocacy and development trainings for other service providers, to educate, empower, and unite all of our communities. For more information, visit: www.hudsonpride.org.

Hudson Pride Connections Center has tapped Jersey City native and Democratic activist Barbra “Babs” Siperstein as the Grand Marshal of this year’s Hudson Pride parade, and the group will honor her at a ceremony Thursday.

Hudson Pride Connections Center in Jersey City appointed Jonathan Lucas as Director of Operations last month. It is a new executive level position at the non-profit. By creating a second executive level staff position, the Board of HPC says it will reinvigorate the strategic vision of the organization.